Although the track meet is called the Royal Twilight Invite, the Highlanders hope they're not competing in the dark—literally.

Royal High will host its annual earlyseason meet Saturday from 10 a.m. to about 6:30 p.m.—or at least that's the time when assistant coach and meet director Heather Ream hopes the event concludes.

Last year's Twilight Invite ended around 9 p.m.

"Maybe we'll actually get out on time and make sure everyone has a good experience . . . and so I don't lose my mind, as another bonus," Ream said.

Twentytwo teams and almost 2,500 athletes competed in the event last season. Ream has invited 16 schools this year, and expects about 1,800 athletes will grace Royal's campus.

Local teams competing include fellow Marmonte League rivals Simi Valley, Westlake and Calabasas.

Royal's first meet of the season will be a good barometer for future success. The RHS boys' and girls' teams are defending Marmonte champions.

"We want to make a good first impression," said junior Thomas Garner, the defending league champion in the 100meter hurdles and 300 hurdles.

Garner also competes in the long jump and triple jump, and relay and sprinting events.

Royal athletic director Jim Wilber likes how some of the best teams from Southern California will participate.

"There are a million kids," Wilber said. "There are so many kids, and they're all having a good time. . . .

"The most memorable moment was about eight or nine years ago when a kid fell and broke his arm running hurdles. The other kids stopped their race to help him. It was a nice thing to see."

Teams still take the event seriously.

"This meet is still competitive, for sure," Ream said. "We've historically had some really good times. . . .

"We've only been practicing officially for a month or so. We're hoping people we think will materialize will actually do well. We have a lot of young kids and new people."

The meet also serves as an important fundraiser. Ream said the team raises anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the weather.

The Simi Valley Running Rebels club team, which includes athletes from Royal's and Simi Valley's squads, volunteers during the meet.